Adjustable picture frame



Jan; 1"4, 195s J. TESTER ADJUSAABLE PICTURE FRAME Fil July '16. 195s 2 sheets-sheet 1 l l' 'l' -ZZ I 4,639 l0 Arrow/Ef AJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME Filed July 16. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR. JEFFERSON TES TER Mmm United States Patent ADJUSTABLE PICTURErFRAME .lleiderson` Tester, New- Y orlr,v N. Y. Application July 16, 1956,- SeaLNo. 598,163

1 Claim.. (Cl.` 40155)* This invention relates to picture frames and, more particularly, to adjustable picture frames'. and a novel method of manufacturing such frames.

Inasmuch as it is sometimes necessary to temporarily display any one of many various sizes of pictures, it is quiteexpensive and wasteful to provide separate picture frames for each such picture that is to be displayed. This is particularly true in art galleries, studios, and the like, wherein it is necessary to only momentarily display a certain picture which may be of any particular size. Heretofore, various types of adjustable picture frames have been suggested for this purpose, however, such frames ordinarily have involved an undue number of parts, complex assembling procedure, and otherwisenobjectionable features that have discouraged the use of such frames. Furthermore, the cost of manufacturing such adjustable frames has-been quite high.

An object of this invention, therefore,` is to provide an` adjustable picture frame and method of manufactut`-` ing` such frames that is simple in construction, efiicient in use, andwhich will overcome the aforementionedidiffrculties.

Another object of thisu invention is to' providewan adjustable; picture frame that is constructed of` a phirality of various sized but similarly configured partsA that are adapted to be. positioned: adjacent to each` other and which, when; assembled, provides auniform; outward apa pearance.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable picture frame h-aving rigid `corner sections and a plurality ofvarious sizes of similarly configured elements between each of the respective corner sections, and adjustable reinforcing means adapted to maintain` the framev in proper assembled' position.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide removable` fastening elements for adjustable picture frames composed of a plurality of various sized parts of similar configuration that are interchangeable and efcient to removably maintain the parts in proper assembled relationship.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a novel method of manufacturing adjustable picture frames from prepared stock material that is simple in procedure and which is particularly suited for the production of accurate and attractive finished products.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a front plan view of a portion of an adjustable picture frame made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear plan view of the portion of the frame shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the frame shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of adjacent portions of the frame shown in Fig. l, with parts broken away.

Fig.; 5 islan.l end .vie'vvwof-Fig..` 4.

Fig. 6. isa top; plan `View showingaY sectiorlfof4 prepared stock material inv .'associatiori;with prearranged` cutting blades used inconnection# withttfhermethod` offmanufac.- turing the picture framemaderini accordance with this invention.

Referring'inow to Fig, l of the` drawing, `asu-bstantial portion of a pictureframe llllmade inaccordance with this inventiorgtis shownotoincl-udeaplurality of rigid angular corner sections llgeach of `which includes averticalllegflband a somewhatshorter horizontal leg` 13, integrally connected to` eaclrother along; a `mitered` edge 14. As is more clearly shown in` Fig..` 5, the exterior surface of the respective frame portions may have a profile of any desired` shape whichmay `include various crests` 15 and recesses. 16. along their front, outwardly disposed, surfaces, while the rearward surface thereofis provided with a peripheral groove 18 that is adapted to receive the exterior edges. of a picture to be secured to the frame. As is clearly shown in Fig. l, each section is provided with a series of score lines Ztl that extend perpendicularly tothe longitudinal` axis of each side of the` frame, each score line 'being chamfered so as to present a substantially identical appearance as that of the adjacent connectediedges ofthe separate elements forming the frame.

As is more clearly indicated in Figs. l. and 3, each side of the frame-includes' that-shaped corner members 11 and a plurality of various` sizes of individual elements, each` of which has `a different number of score lines20, depending upon the size of the `particular section. If, for` purposes of explanation, eachpair of score lines is representative of one inch of length, the horizontal section of the'frarnetshown` in Figs. l. 2, and 3, includes a first corner section-11, a four inch section 22, a three inch section 23,. a two inch section 24, `a one inch section 25, and` another corner sectionlll. Since the chamfered score lines provide an appearance quite the same as the joints J between the respective sections, the front surface of the frame, when viewed, .displays continuity of stylin-g'l and assembly.

The various sections of the frameare maintained: in assembled position by means.` of` a plurality of tubes and pins which engage each other. As more clearly shown in Fig. 4, the outer edge of the one inch section 25, immediately adjacent to the crest 15 thereof, is provided witha circular tubey 27 that extends through the entire length thereof. The innerportionl of this section 25, immediately adjacent tot therecess lithereof, is provided with a similar tubeZS. Similarly, the outer edge of the two inchsect-ion Z4, is, provided wi-tha circular tube 29- extendingl through the entire` lengthfthereof, asis the inner section thereof provided-with a `tube 30., Eachy of the three and four inch sections 22, 20, are provided with outer tubes 3l. and inner tubes 32 at each end thereof which extend longitudinally into each section a distance corresponding to the distance between one pair of score lines. Except for the one inch section 25, the outer and the inner bores of each of the other sections are provided with metallic fastening pins 35, 36, that are adapted to engage the integral tubes so as to maintain the adjacent sections in proper relationship. It is to be noted, that the length of each of these pins 35, 36, is substantially equal to the distance between one pair of spaced score lines, whereby each pin is adapted to engage each respective tube throughout substantially the entire length thereof. Each of the one inch sections 25 is provided with an outer and inner metallic pin 39, 40, that is substantially equal to the distance between three such score lines, so that when a one inch section is inserted in the frame, these pins 39, 40, are adapted to engage the one inch section and each section at either side thereof so as to maintain these three sections in proper assembled position.

It is to be understood, that any number of such various sizes of sections may be inserted or removed so as to provide a frame of proper dimensions. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, securing means for maintaining the frame in proper assembled position are shown to include a pair of slotted bars 42, 4?, disposed along each side of the trame. Pairs of screws Ltti-447, 62-62a, 63-63a are adapted to secure one end of each bar in engagement with the respective corner section 11, the opposite end thereof being closed and supporting a thumb screw 52, 53, that also engages the slot of the other of such bars so as to maintain the two bars in relatively lixed longitudinal relationship when the respective thumb screws are tightened so as to prevent the separation of the respective trarne sections between each pair of corners. The secured end of each slotted bar is also provided with an enlarged slotted portion 54, 5:5, to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the respective thumb screws during the assembling operation of the frame.

Referring now to Fig. 6, a novel method of manufacturing the respective kframe elements is illustrated, wherein an elongated section of prepared stock material 56 is provided with a continuous series of equally spaced score lines 2te. The end of each section to be cut off is delined by a pair of closely spaced score lines which enclose a narrow waste section 57 that is of substantially the same width asV the width of the cutoff blade 59 of a saw mechanism. This narrow Waste section S7 conforms to the size of the ker-f that is produced by each of the blades 59 that are rotated on a common shaft 6d. rhe spacing between each Waste section 57 is identical to the spacing between each respective blade 59 so that when the stock material 56 is placed upon the cutting mechanism, the cutoff blades 59 are automatically operative to divide the stock into a plurality of various sizes of frame sections, the distance between each of the score lines thereon being maintained at a constant, and corresponding to an equal division of the length of each section. lt is to be noted that in the setup illustrated in Fig. 6, at least one of each size of sections 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, is produced during the cutoff operation. However, it will be recognized that this arrangement may be altered to suit any desired purpose or to produce a frame of any desired dimensions. After assembling the frame, it may be placed on an easel or hung such as by fastening screws 62, 63, secured to the backside of the frame.

While the sections have been described as being assembled by means of the tubes and dowels, it will be understood that if the sections are made of moulded or extruded plastic material, the tubes will not be required, the dowels being receivable directly in suitable bores or recesses in the plastic material. It will be understood that magnetic means may be utilized for securing the various sections together instead of the slotted bars shown.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the specific form shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations on the invention, which is best defined by the claim appended hereto.

I claim:

An adjustable rectangular picture rframe comprising, in combination, a rigid L-shaped section at each corner of said frame, a plurality of removable and interchangeable sections disposed between aligned legs of each pair of said corner sections, the exposed end surfaces of each of said sections presenting the open end of embedded metallic tubes, metallic pins adapted to be received by said tubes of adjacent sections to position a plurality of said sections in a predetermined arrangement, front exposed surfaces of each of said sections being provided with ornamental surface congurations, and means on the back surfaces of said frames comprising adjustable securing means for maintaining said sections in'assembled relationship, said removable sections comprising a plurality of longitudinal sections of different lengths, said surface conguration comprising a plurality of equally spaced transversely eX- tending grooved score lines, the spacing between said score lines substantially corresponding to an equal division of the length of each of said longitudinal sections, the edges of said exposed end surfaces of said sections being charnfered and when placed in engagement with the next adjacent section being adapted to present a groove corresponding in size and configuration to said score lines, said tubes being of circular cross-section and said pins being of circular cross-section of substantially equal diameter to the diameter of said tubes and adapted to be slidably received therewithin, said tubes being rigidly secured to said section and all of said tubes being in axial alignment with each other, whereby each of said removable sections is interchangeable with eachother so as to provide size adjustment for said frame, said adjustable securing means comprising a pair of longitudinally disposed and slotted bars, each one of said bars being removably secured at one end to an opposed leg of a pair of said corner sections, the other end of each of said bars being disposed in overlapping engagement with each other, and adjustable fastening means adapted to maintain said other ends in a selective longitudinally adjusted position to maintain all of said sections in proper assembled relationship.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,524,793 Lemery Feb. 3, 1925 1,558,987 Kallacheuer Oct. 27, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 68,245 Germany Apr. 29, 1893 

